Exploring The Unique States Of Bolivia

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America, named after independence fighter Simón Bolívar. It is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government and is divided into nine departments: Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, and Tarija. Each department is represented in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, which consists of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Bolivia has a rich history, having once been the centre of the ancient Tiwanaku empire and later a part of the Inca empire.

Bolivia's nine departments

Bolivia is a unitary state made up of nine departments, which are its primary subdivisions. These departments are:

• Beni
• Chuquisaca
• Cochabamba
• La Paz
• Oruro
• Pando
• Potosi
• Santa Cruz
• Tarija

Each department is represented in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, which is a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Each department is represented by four Senators, while the number of Deputies is awarded in proportion to the population of each department.

As of 2020, the most populous department is Santa Cruz, which is also the largest in terms of area. Santa Cruz is located in the east of Bolivia and is home to the country's largest city, Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The department of Santa Cruz is known for its oil fields, which produce 75% of the country's petroleum.

The least populous department is Pando, with a population of 110,436, while the smallest in terms of area is Tarija.

The departments of Bolivia are further divided into 112 provinces, 327 municipalities, and 1,384 cantons.

La Paz and Sucre, the administrative and constitutional capitals

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia and has two capitals: Sucre, the constitutional capital, and La Paz, the administrative capital.

Sucre

Sucre is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and is the site of the country's Supreme Court. It is a historic city that was once part of the ancient Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) empire and the Inca empire. Sucre is located in the country's mountainous western region, which is one of the highest inhabited areas in the world. The city is situated in a valley and is known for its colonial architecture, including the Casa de la Libertad (House of Liberty), which was built in 1601 and served as the meeting place for the first Constituent Assembly of Latin America.

La Paz

La Paz, officially known as Nuestra Señora de La Paz, is the administrative capital and seat of the Bolivian government. It is the third-most populous city in Bolivia, with a metropolitan area that is the second most populous urban area in the country. The city is located in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River and is surrounded by the high mountains of the Altiplano. La Paz is the highest capital city in the world, sitting at an elevation of roughly 3,650 m (11,975 ft) above sea level. It has a unique subtropical highland climate, with rainy summers and dry winters.

La Paz is the political, administrative, economic, and sports centre of Bolivia. It is home to the presidential palace, known as the Palacio Quemado (Burnt Palace), as well as the Bolivian legislature, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, and various government departments and agencies. The city is also a cultural hub, hosting landmarks such as the San Francisco Church, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Plaza Murillo. La Paz is renowned for its markets, particularly the Witches' Market, where visitors can find a variety of unusual items, including dehydrated llama fetuses said to bring good luck.

The country's 36 native cultures and over 30 official languages

Bolivia is a country of great diversity, with 36 recognised native cultures and over 30 official languages. While many foreigners associate Bolivia predominantly with Andean, Aymara or Quechua cultures, there are in fact many more indigenous cultures within the country, each with their own unique customs and, in most cases, their own languages.

The 36 native cultures are divided into three geographical groups: those who inhabit the Amazonian tropical forests, those who inhabit the Andes Mountain region, and those who come from the southeastern dry Chaco region. The largest ethnic groups are the Aymara, who number over 2 million, the Quechua, who number over 2.5 million, and the Chiquitano, who number over 180,000. The Aymara are native to La Paz, Oruro and Potosi, while the Quechua are native to Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Potosí, Oruro and La Paz. The Chiquitano inhabit the Chiquitos region of Santa Cruz, where Jesuit missionaries established dozens of mission towns.

The official languages of Bolivia are Spanish, Quechua and Aymara, but there are many other indigenous languages spoken throughout the country. According to the 2012 National Census, 41% of the Bolivian population over the age of 15 are of indigenous origin, and this percentage is likely to have increased in subsequent years.

Bolivia is a unitary plurinational, secular state, and the recognition of the different communities that reside in the country is enshrined in the 2009 constitution. The constitution also gives indigenous peoples the right of self-governance and autonomy over their ancestral territories. As a result of this, Bolivia has become the first plurinational state in South America.

Bolivia's economic activities, including agriculture and manufacturing

Bolivia is a unitary multiparty republic with a rich history and diverse geography. It is landlocked and shares borders with Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. Bolivia's economy is largely driven by its natural resources, with a historic focus on a single commodity, such as silver, tin, or coca. The country has a lower-middle-income economy, ranking 95th in the world, and has a population of around 12.3 million people.

Agriculture

Bolivia's agricultural sector has grown exponentially, even amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This growth is attributed to the country's rich natural resources and favourable international prices for its export products. The sector contributes significantly to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and employs nearly 44% of Bolivia's workers. The main agricultural products include soybeans, cotton, coffee, sugarcane, corn, wheat, and potatoes. Bolivia is also a significant cultivator of coca, which presents a complex dynamic due to international pressure to restrict its production.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing sector in Bolivia has grown since the 1950s but remains relatively small compared to other industries. It accounts for approximately 18% of the country's GDP and includes the processing of food, beverages, and tobacco. Leading manufactured goods include textiles, clothing, non-durable consumer goods, processed soya, refined metals, and petroleum. The services industry, however, remains underdeveloped due to weak purchasing power among Bolivians.

Other Economic Activities

Mining, particularly the extraction of natural gas, zinc, and other natural resources, is a dominant sector in Bolivia's economy. The country also has significant lithium deposits, which are largely undeveloped. Tourism is an increasingly important contributor to the economy, with many tourists attracted by Bolivia's natural and cultural offerings, such as Lake Titicaca and the historic cities of Sucre and Potosí.

The country's political and electoral system

Bolivia is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. The country is divided into nine departments, 112 provinces, 327 municipalities, and 1,384 cantons. The political system is a multi-party system, with numerous parties.

The country's legislative body is the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, which is bicameral. The House of Representatives, or Chamber of Deputies, consists of 130 members directly elected for five-year terms. Seventy of these are directly elected from a single district, seven are directly elected from non-contiguous indigenous districts, and 53 are elected by proportional representation from party lists. The Senate, or Chamber of Senators, consists of 36 members, four from each of the country's nine departments, elected using closed party lists and the D'Hondt method. Senators are also elected for five-year terms.

The president of Bolivia is the head of state, head of government, and head of a diverse multi-party system. The president is directly elected by the people, by majority, for a five-year term. A candidate needs to receive either 50% of the vote, or 40% of the vote with a 10% lead over the second-place candidate, to win. If no candidate achieves this in the first round of voting, a second round is held between the top two candidates. The president possesses executive authority.

The judiciary and the electoral branch are independent of the executive and the legislature. The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Plurinational Constitutional Court, the Judiciary Council, the Agrarian and Environmental Court, and District (departmental) and lower courts. The electoral branch, formally the Plurinational Electoral Organ, is an independent branch of government that replaced the National Electoral Court in 2010. It consists of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the nine Departmental Electoral Tribunals, Electoral Judges, the anonymously selected Juries at Election Tables, and Electoral Notaries.

Frequently asked questions